Means for charging furnaces



Nov. 16,1926. 1,606,960

0. c. REEvEs MEANS FOR CHARGING FURNACES Filed April 8; 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 gww'nloz 020/1 63 Eaerae W attonwq Nov. 16 1926. 1,606,960

O. C. REEVES MEANS FOR CHARGING FURNACES Filed April 8, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 024. 6? Beet ea.

' Nov. 16 1926.

1,606,960 0. c. REEVES MEANS FOR CHARGING FURNACES Filed April 8, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 m k i mm "mm Nov. 16 1926.

O. C. REEVES MEANS FOR CHARGING FURNACES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nova 16, 1%26.

unites STATES PATENT @FFEQE.

ORHELL C. REEVES, GI'ZGLED'O, ASSIGNOR TO TGLEDO SCALE COMPANY, CF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW" JERSEY.

MEANS FOR CHARGING FURNACES.

Application ina April 8, 1925. Serial No. 21,568.

This invention relates to means for charging furnaces, and relates particularly to means for placing articles in and removing them from a heat treating furnace.

In the manufacture of certain products it is often necessary to subject the parts to heat treatment for a period of time, and it'has always been a source of annoyance to the manufz ct :161 as to the procedure of placing the a; parts to be treated into the furnace and withdrawing the finished product without such operation becoming a time consuming factor. This is especially true in the manufacture of parts which are finished in porcelain enamel or other vitreous coating; W hen such parts are placed in or withdrawn from the furnace their previously coated surfaces must not come into contact with each other: the vitreous coating is in a' very soft and plastic condition and the surfaces easily marred or injured. It is one of the salient objects of this invention to provide an efficient means for positioning several articles simultaneously without disturbing the positions of such articles relative to 'eachother,

Another object is the provision of furnace charging means whereby a number of pieces of work in the furnace under treatment may be removed and unfinished Work placed in the furnace in substantially the same operation.

Another object is the provision of a fur nace charging means whereby the finished work may be removed from and unfinished work placed 3 ;o the furnace very rapidly, thereby preventing; a substantial fall in the Jerature within the furnace chamber and 1 effecting a great saving of heat. itill another object is the provision of an transpositioning means which is siniinexpensive in construction and not liable to get out of order when subjected to the rough handling which such devices often receive at the hands of inexperienced w0rkmen.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings illustratingpreferred embodiments of my invention and wherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several viewsl In theclrawings Figurel' isan'elevationa'lview of aheat treating furnace showing the work-trans 71-1 and is'capable of vertical sliding porting carriage of my invention in juxtaposition thereto;

Figure 11 is an elevational view similar to Figure I showing the work transporting carriage in operation, parts of the heat treat ing furnace being shown in section for purposes of illustration; I

Figure H1 is a plan view of the carriage and supporting rails; V

Figure IV is a plan View of the work supporting means partially in section taken substantially on the line IV-lV of Figure 1; Figure V is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the carriage operating mechanism taken substantially on the line V-V of Figure Ill;

Figure V1 is an enlarged fragmentary section'al. view taken substantially on the line VIVI of Figure I;

Figure VII is a view similar to Figure I showing a modified form of furnace and work transporting carriage;

Figure VIII is an enlarged end view of a portion of the work transporting carriage; and V Figure IX is a top plan view of part of the'carriage illustrated in Figure VH1.

Referring to the drawings I have shown my invention as used in conjunction with an electrically heated furnace of a well known type,- and, as thefurnace is not 'per se ofmy invention it will only be described in such detail asto' illustrate the application of my invention'thereto, and it is to be understood that l'ilYlIlVlltiOll is applicable for use with any. type of furnace.

'Ilhe furnace illustrated consists substantially of a body portion 1 supported upon a pluralityof legs 2, the portion 1 consisting: of a metal shell formed of ribbed plates and lined with walls of fire brick 5 which are practically non-diathermanous in character to prevent the radiation and loss of heat. The walls of brick 5 are lined with a suitable refractory material 6 rhich refracts the heat throughout the space 7 into which the work to be treated is placed, the source of heat being a plurality of electrically energized heating: elements 8. A door 10 fabricated of steel plates and fire brick is slidably position'ed between vertically disposed wz mo c mentrelative{to-the furnace and'adapted to close the entrance thereto the door being ill:

Y and 19 rigidly connected by means of a bracket 20, the extremities of the girders supporting stud shafts on which are revolubly mounted wheels or rollers 21 adapted to traverse rails 22. The rails 22 may be supported in any suitable manner, that shown comprising brackets 24 which may be suspended from the roof structure (not shown). A depending boss 25 forming an integral part of the bracket is bored to-receive the 77 upper extremity of a tube 26, the lower part of the tube having an arm 27 fixedly secured thereto for a purpose to be hereinafter described. V r

Loosely positioned within the hollow tube 26 is a shaft 28, the upper end being threaded into an extended portion of a miter gear 29 mounted for rotation in a bushing 30 fixedly positioned in the upper end of the tube 26, thelower end of the shaft 28 carrying a Vwork supporting rack. This work supporting rack comprises an H-shapcd bracket 32 loosely mounted upon the shaft 27, being retained thereon by means of a collar fixed to the shaft. The arms of the bracket 32 support a pair of parallel bars 34 forming a rack on which the work may be placed. The bracket 32 is provided with apair of upwardly projecting opposed lugs 36 and 37, the adjacent faces of the lugs having plates 38, the plates being provided with notches 40 and 41. i The arm 27 fixed to the tube 26 is provided with aboss which is bored to receive a spring pressed detent 43 which is adapted to engage one of the notches 40 or 41, depending'upon the rela tive position of the work supporting rack, to yieldingly retain tlie latter in either one of two positions.

I have provided means for raising and lowering the work supporting rack' comprisingthe miter gear 29 meshing with a similar gear 45 fixedly secured by means of a key upon a horizontally disposed shaft 46 which is suitably journaled in a bushing 47 snugly fitted within a bore in an arm 48, the latter.

being fixed upon the upper extremity of the tube 26. Keyed or otherwise fixedly secured to the other end of the shaft 46 is a pulley 48 having a groove adapted to receive a chain 49, said groove having suitable indentations adapted to receive the links of the chain 49 so that movement of the chain will rotate the pulley. It will be apparent from the foregoing that if the chain 49 be rotated, the pulley 48 and gears 45 and '29 will be rotated and the shaft 28 threaded into or out of the gear 29, depending upon direction of rotation of the pulley, thus rising or lowering the work supporting rack.

In the operatlon of my device a number of castings, which have been previously coated with an untreated vitreous coating, as, for

moved to the position shown in Figure II with the castings in the furnace. The chain 49 may be rotated in. a direction to lower the bars 34. The members 50 extending over the bars 34 engage a pair of rods 52 resting on the base of the furnace which supports the members 50 and the castings supported thereon. Sufficientclearance is provided for between the members 50 resting upon the rods 52 and the base of the furnace to allow the bars 34 to be moved out of the furnace and the door closed. In the interval of time required to heat the castings another lot of castings may be placed upon the other ends of the bars 34. When the castings within the furnace have been sufliciently heated the furnace door is again opened and the free ends of the bars 34 are moved under the work supports 50. The chain 49 is then moved in a direction to slightly elevate the bars 34 until they sufficiently engage the supports 50 to elevate them above the rods 52, the finished castings and members 50 being entirely supported by the bars 34. The carriage may then be moved away from the furnace, carrying the finished parts therewith. When the carriage is returned to the position illustrated in Figure I a comparatively slight lateral pressure exerted upon the work supporting bars 34 causes the detent 43 to be moved out of engagement with the notch in one ofthe plates38 and the bars 34 to be rotated upon the shaft 28 as an axis. Rotation of the bars through 130 brings the detent 43 into engagement with the notch in the other plate 38 to yieldingly prevent further movement of the bars In this position a new lot of untreated castings is in position to be moved into the furnace and the process hereinbefore described is recnacted. While the castings in the furnace are being treated the finished castings may be removed from the bars 34 and replaced by another lot of untreated castings.

In the modified form illustrated in Figures VII to IX the device comprises a furnace 1 similar in structure to that hereinbefore described only of enlarged proportions. A carriage 2" is movably mounted upon a track 3, the carriage being provided with a center structure 4 from which depends a work supporting rack 5 suspended by means of a vertical shaft 6. The means for elevating and lowering the work support comprises a system of gearing similar to that shown in Figure V connected to the vertical shaft 6, the operating means, however, consisting of a chain 8 adapted to take over a pulley 9 and a pulley 10, the latter connected to a pair of handwheels 11 located on either side of the work support. The shaft 13 upon which the pulley 10 and hand wheels 11 are mounted is suitably journaled in a bracket 15 suitably supported upon the tube or sleeve 14 surrounding the shaft 6. The work supporting rack 5 consists of a pair of parallel bars fixed at either side of a center structure 16, the latter being revolubly mounted upon the lower extremity of the shaft 6 and retained thereon by means of a collar 17. The center structure 16 is provided with a pair of upwardly projecting lugs having notched plates 18, a

spring pressed detent 19 being adapted to engage the notch in one of said plates, depending upon the relative position of the work supporting rack 5. The detent or pawl 19 is supported in the extremity of an arm 20 fixed to the sleeve 14:. A handle member 22 operable from either side of the work supporting rack is pivoted to the arm 20 as at 23 and serves as a means for releasing the detent 19 from engagement with the means for revolving the rack, the handles being normally out of the way of the operator.

In order to enable. the operator to open the furnace door without leavinghis position I have provided operating means therefor, comprising abracket 28 provided with a projecting stud shaft 29, and revolubly supported upon the shaft is a sprocket wheel 80 suitably connected by means of a chain 32 to another sprocket wheel 33. The sprocket wheel 38 is loosely feathersplined upon a shaft S l, the latter being substantially parallel with the tracks 3 and journaled in he rings 36 supported by the tracks 3. The end of the shaft adjacent the furnace 1 is provided with a miter gear (not shown) which meshes with a similar gear (not shown) mounted upon a transversely extending shaf 38. A sprocket wheel 39 is connected by means of a chain 40 to a similar sprocket wheel ll fixed to a shaft- 42 which supports the pulleys e 3, the latter being connected by means of the chain 45 to the urnace door. An operating handle 31 is secured to the sprocket wheel 30 and movement thereof is transmitted to the shaft 34, th nce through gearing (not shown) to chains to and as to open or close thefurirace door, depending upon the direction of movement of themechanism. The sprocket wheel 33' is so constructed as to be moved along the shaft 34 whenever the carriage 2 is moved and in this way the door may be operated no matter in what position the carriage may be.

In order to prevent inadvertent movement of the carriage 2 when the work supporting rack is with-drawn from the furnace, I have provided a spring pressed pawl or catch 48 which is adapted to engage a stop member 49 fixed to one of the tracks 3 to restrain Iurther movement'of the carriage. A lever 50" is so connected to the pawl 4.8- that when it is desired to move the carriage the handle 51 depending from the lever 51 may be grasped by the operator and a downward movement thereof acts to disengage. the pawl as from the stop member 49.

As the type of furnace usually employed in the heat treatment of various parts is heated by electricity, it is very important that as many pieces of work be placed in the furnace at one time as possible in order to reduce the cost of such treatment. The means employed for supporting the various pieces of work to be treated consists of one or more bars 55 having a plurality of openings 56 therein adapted to receive rods similar to that indicated at 57. Ar plurality of brackets 58 are provided with openings and are adapted to be slipped upon the rods 57 and nest one above the other, each bracket supporting a piece of work 59 to be treated. In this way a comparatively large number of pieces may be placed in the furnace at one time. A number of differently shaped brackets may be employed for use insupporting work of various sizes and shapes.

In the operation ofthis device a number of the bars 55 are properly arranged upon the parallel bars 5 and the rods 57 inserted therein. The brackets 58 are then slipped over the rods and pieces of untreated work placedthereon. hen one end of the work supporting rack has been loaded 7 with enough work to charge the furnace, assunr ing that the. work supporting rack has been previously adjusted to the proper height by means of either of the handwheel's 11, the handle 31 is rotated in a direction to open the furnace door. The carriage is then moved toward the furnace, thereby moving the loaded end of the. bars 5 into the fur nace. The rack is then lower-ed means.

bers 55 carrying the work to be treated upon a rack (not shown) in the furnace. The bars 55 are then withdrawn from the furnace and the furnace door closed by movement of the handle 31'. While one charge is being heat treated, the other end of the rack may be loaded with another lot of work. I/Vhsn the castings have been heated sufficiently the door is again opened and the free ends of the bars moved under the work supports 55 and the rack elevated by means of one of the handwheels 11 and the rack with the finished work withdrawn from the furnace. The lever 25 nearest the operator is grasped by him and elevated to a horizontalposition, the lever 22' moved to disengage the pawl 19" from the notch in the plate 18, and the rack rotated through an arc of 180, thereby bringing the fresh lot of work in juxtaposition to the furnace, and the same operation of moving the work into the furnace repeated.

The embodiments of my invention herein shown and described are to be regarded as illustrative only, and it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible to variation, modification and change within the spirit and scope .of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a 'device of the class described, in combination, a heat treating furnace, a movable carriage, a work supporting means connected to said carriage and adapted to support a plurality of lots of work, and means for operating said carriage and said work supporting means to selectively move said lots of work into the furnace to subj set them to heat treatment. 7

2. In a device of the class described, in combination, a heat treating furnace, a carriage movably supported upon a track, a work-supporting means mounted on said carriage and adapted to support a plurality of lots of work, and means operating. inclependently of saidcarriage for rotating said work supporting means to selectively move said lots of workinto and out of said furnace.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, a heat treating furnace, a carriage movably supported upon a track, a work supporting means mounted on said carriage and adapted to support a plurality of lots of work, means operating independently of said carriage for rotating said work supporting means to selectively move said lots of work into and out of said furnace, and means for raising and lowering said work supporting means to effect a disposition of the work in the furnace and a removal of the treated work therefrom.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination, a heat treating furnace, a'carriage movably supported upon a track, a

work supporting rack mounted upon said carriage and adapted to support a plurality of lots of work, said work supporting rack being capable of movement relative to said carriage to selectively move said lots of work into and out of said furnace, and means including a system of gearing for raising and lowering said work supporting rack to effect a disposition. of the work in the furnace and a removal of the treated work therefrom.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination, a heat treating furnace, a movable carriage, a work support suspended from said carriage and adapted to support a plurality of lots of work, said work support being movable relative to said carriage and capable of several positions, yieldable means for retaining said work support in one of said positions, and manually operated means for raising and lowering said work supports to effect a disposition of the work in the furnace and a removal of the treated work therefrom.

6. In a device for treating vitreous coated articles, a furnace, a rack movable into and out of said furnace, and a member adapted to rest upon said rack, said member adapted to support a plurality of supports for parts to be treated, said supports being so constructed as to nest one above the other to support theparts and prevent the engagement of the coated surfaces thereof.

7. In a device for treating vitreous coated articles, a furnace, arack movable into and out of said furnace, a member adapted to rest upon, said rack, said member adapted to support a plurality of supports for parts to be treated, said supports being so constructed as to nest one above the other to support the parts and prevent the engagement of the coated surfaces thereof, and means for operating said work supporting rack to elevateor lower the latter to deposit or remove articles from the furnace.

8. In a device for treating vitreous coated articles, in combination, a heat treating furnace, a rack movable into and out of said furnace, a plurality of members adapted to rest upon said rack, a plurality of article supports adapted to be mounted upon said members, said supports being so constructed as to nest one above the other to prevent the engagement of the coated surfaces of the articles supported thereon, means for adjusting said work supporting rack to deposit in and remove articles from said furnace, and means in said furnace for supporting said members and articles supported thereon during the heat treating process.

9. In a device for treating vitreous coated articles, in combination, a heat treating furnace having a charging door, a carriage movable along a track, a work supporting rack adapted to selectively move a plurality of lots of work into and out of said furnace,

and means supported upon said carriage for opening and closing said furnace charging door, said means being operable with the carriage in any position.

10. in a device of the class described, in combination, a heat treating furnace, a Work supporting means adapted to support a plurality of lots of Work, means for selectively moving said lots of Work into the furnace, means for elevating and lowering said Work supporting means to deposit in and remove lots of work from the furnace, and means for indicating the relative position of the Work supporting means.

11. In adevice of the class described, in combination. a heat treating furnace, a work supporting means adapted to support a plu rality of lots of Work, means for selectively moving said lots of Work into the furnace, means for releasably holding said Work sup porting means in proper position, means for elevating and lowering said Work supporting means to deposit the lots of Work in and remove them from the furnace, and means for indicating the relative position of the Work supporting means.

12. In a device of the class described, in combination, a heat treating furnace, and means for supporting articles to be treated therein, including a base member, a plural ity of supports mounted upon said base member each adapted to support an article to be treated, said supports being so constructed as to nest one above the other.

13. In a device of the class described, in

combination, a heat treating; furnace, means for supporting articles to be treated therein, including a bar, a plurality of brackets each adapted to support an article to be treated mounted upon said bar, said brackets being so constructed as to nest one above the other, and means adapted to engage said bar to convey said bar and articles supported thereby into and out of said furnace.

ORVVELL C. REEVES. 

